RBC offers one of Canada’s broadest credit card lineups, covering everything from no-annual-fee everyday cards to premium travel cards with unlimited airport lounge access. This guide ranks the best RBC credit cards by category to help you find the right fit — whether you want flexible travel rewards, simple cashback, or a WestJet card for direct-airline earning.
For the full picture of credit card options beyond RBC, see best credit cards in Canada and best travel credit cards.
Best RBC Credit Cards by Category
Best Overall: RBC Avion Visa Infinite
Annual fee: $120 | Network: Visa Infinite | Earn rate: 1–1.25× Avion points
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is RBC’s best mid-tier travel card and the standard choice for RBC customers who travel regularly. Avion points are flexible — transferable to British Airways Avios (1:1), WestJet Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles — giving you options that Aeroplan-only cards do not.
Why it wins: The $120 annual fee is the lowest among full-insurance Visa Infinite travel cards in Canada. The welcome bonus (typically 35,000 Avion points on new applications) is worth $350–$525 depending on redemption.
Best for: RBC customers who travel internationally 2+ times per year and want flexible point redemption.
Best for Cashback: RBC Cashback Preferred World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $99 | Network: World Elite Mastercard | Earn rate: 1.5% on everything
The Cashback Preferred World Elite earns a flat 1.5% cashback on every purchase with no caps and no category restrictions. At $99/year, it pays for itself at just $6,600 in annual spending — most Canadian households far exceed that.
World Elite Mastercard perks include Mastercard Travel Rewards, cellphone protection, and extended warranty benefits.
Best for: Canadians who want the simplicity of flat-rate cashback and prefer Mastercard for Costco compatibility.
Best No-Annual-Fee Card: RBC ION Visa
Annual fee: $0 | Network: Visa | Earn rate: 1.5× Avion points on key categories
The ION Visa earns 1.5 Avion points per dollar on streaming subscriptions, transit, gas, and grocery stores — categories that cover a large share of most households’ spending. Everything else earns 1 point per dollar. There is no annual fee.
Why it wins: Most no-fee cards in Canada either earn a flat 1× everywhere or earn cashback with restrictive caps. The ION Visa’s 1.5× on everyday categories with Avion points (usable for travel, gift cards, and account credit) is unusual for a no-fee card.
Best for: Students, young professionals, or anyone who wants RBC Avion points without paying a fee.
Best No-Annual-Fee Cashback: RBC Cashback Mastercard
Annual fee: $0 | Network: Mastercard | Earn rate: 2% on groceries, 1% on recurring bills, 0.5% elsewhere
The RBC Cashback Mastercard earns 2% back on grocery store purchases — one of the highest rates available on a no-fee card. The grocery cap is $6,000/year, after which the earn rate drops to 1%.
Best for: Budget-conscious Canadians who grocery shop frequently and want Costco compatibility with no annual cost.
Best for WestJet Flyers: RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee: $119 | Network: World Elite Mastercard | Earn rate: 2% WestJet dollars on WestJet purchases, 1.5% elsewhere
WestJet dollars are straightforward: 1 WestJet dollar = $1 off a WestJet flight. The card also includes a $99 companion voucher (one-way base fare) each anniversary and the first checked bag free for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on WestJet flights.
The companion voucher alone often justifies the $119 annual fee — one return trip where you use it saves $99–$150 on the companion ticket.
Best for: Frequent WestJet flyers, particularly families where bag-fee savings and the companion voucher make the annual fee an easy win.
Best for Everyday Streaming & Subscriptions: RBC ION+ Visa
Annual fee: $48 | Network: Visa | Earn rate: 3× on streaming, subscriptions, groceries, dining; 1.5× on transit, gas; 1× elsewhere
The ION+ earns 3 Avion points per dollar on a category that the Avion Visa Infinite ignores: streaming and subscriptions. If your household spends $200/month on Netflix, Disney+, Apple Music, and Spotify, that is 7,200 points per year from subscriptions at $48 cost — a strong value.
Best for: Younger Canadians with high streaming and dining spend who want a low-cost card with meaningful category rewards.
Best Premium: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
Annual fee: $399 | Network: Visa Infinite Privilege | Earn rate: 1.25× Avion everywhere, 2× on travel purchases
The Privilege card adds unlimited Priority Pass airport lounge access, emergency travel medical up to $5 million, VIP Concierge service, and a higher earn rate on travel purchases. Eligible RBC banking clients may receive fee rebates.
Best for: High-income travellers who will actually use Priority Pass lounges 6+ times per year (each visit is worth approximately $35–$60).
All RBC Credit Cards: Quick Comparison
| Card | Annual fee | Best for | Key earn rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite | $120 | Flexible travel | 1–1.25× Avion |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $399 | Premium travel | 1.25–2× Avion |
| RBC ION+ Visa | $48 | Streaming, dining | 1.5–3× Avion |
| RBC ION Visa | $0 | No-fee rewards | 1–1.5× Avion |
| RBC Cashback Preferred World Elite | $99 | Flat-rate cashback | 1.5% everywhere |
| RBC Cashback Mastercard | $0 | Grocery cashback | 2% groceries |
| RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard | $119 | WestJet flyers | 1.5–2% WestJet $ |
| RBC British Airways Visa Infinite | $165 | Avios collectors | 3× Avios on BA |
How to Choose the Right RBC Card
Step 1 — What do you want from a credit card?
- Travel rewards → Avion Visa Infinite or Privilege
- Simple cashback → Cashback Preferred World Elite (fee) or Cashback Mastercard (no fee)
- WestJet flights → WestJet World Elite Mastercard
- No annual fee → ION Visa or Cashback Mastercard
Step 2 — Can you use the insurance? All Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard products include travel insurance. If you currently buy standalone travel insurance, one mid-tier RBC card usually covers the equivalent coverage and pays for itself.
Step 3 — Do you shop at Costco? Costco Canada accepts only Mastercard. If Costco is a significant spend category, the RBC Cashback Mastercard (no fee, 2% groceries) or the Cashback Preferred World Elite Mastercard (1.5% everywhere) are compatible; Visa products are not.
Should You Stack RBC Cards?
Many RBC customers benefit from two cards: a Visa Infinite travel card for insurance and Avion points on everyday non-Costco spending, plus a no-fee Mastercard for Costco. The ION Visa + Cashback Mastercard combination covers both networks at no annual cost.
Premium travellers sometimes pair the Avion Visa Infinite Privilege (for lounge access and top-tier insurance) with the ION+ (for 3× on streaming and dining), keeping the Privilege card for travel and the ION+ for daily spending.
See also: RBC Avion Visa Infinite review · best travel credit cards in Canada · RBC Avion Rewards program guide